Air and Rail Travel: Security

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the reasons for searching bags at United Kingdom airports and Eurostar terminals are the same; and, if so, why computers and liquids over 100 ml are allowed in bags during searches at Eurostar terminals but not at airports.

Earl Attlee: The purpose of searching bags at airports and Eurostar terminals is the same-to detect prohibited items. Protective security measures are tailored to each mode to reflect current threat and risks and are proportionate, sustainable and practicable. As the inherent vulnerabilities and operation of aircraft and trains are different, the screening regimes are established accordingly.

Animals: Trophy Hunting

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what regulations apply to shooting as a form of trophy hunting wild mammals which are enclosed so that they are unable to escape.

Lord Henley: Relevant UK legislation covers the theft of animals, their welfare and the safe and lawful use of appropriate firearms but there are no regulations in the UK which expressly prohibit canned trophy hunting of wild mammals.
	Additionally, there are no international rules regulating the canned hunting of animals. Such restrictions are a matter for national legislation in the countries concerned.

Anti-Semitism

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle and reduce the level of anti-Semitic incidents.

Baroness Hanham: The coalition Government published the three-year on response to the all party parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism in December, which highlighted the steps we have taken to tackle and reduce anti-Semitism. This can be viewed on the department's website at: www. communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/antisemitismresponse.
	In addition, the cross-government working group to tackle anti-Semitism has been tasked with taking forward future work on this issue.

Armed Forces: Accommodation

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that service personnel leaving the Armed Forces are treated as a priority for housing by local authorities.

Baroness Hanham: DCLG circular 4/2009 recommends to local authorities that members of the Armed Forces who have been seriously injured in service should receive additional preference (that is to say, high priority) for suitable social housing.
	Under the homelessness legislation, local authorities have a duty to secure suitable accommodation for households who are eligible for assistance, homeless through no fault of their own and fall within a priority need group. The priority need groups include, among others, people who are vulnerable as a result of having spent time in the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Seriously Injured Personnel

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether service personnel who suffer injuries in Afghanistan are offered the same level of care in all parts of the United Kingdom.

Lord Astor of Hever: Yes. All service personnel who suffer injuries in Afghanistan or in any other conflict areas receive the same level of care in all parts of the UK. The location for elective treatment will result from a number of considerations, including whether the patient requires a particular clinical specialty and the severity of the injury. The exception to this is the treatment of seriously injured operational casualties, where the primary reception hospital for casualties aeromedically evacuated back to the UK is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
	The Armed Forces have a widespread rehabilitation network that has some 180 primary care rehabilitation facilities and 15 regional rehabilitation units (RRUs) as well as the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court. Military patients requiring rehabilitation are sent to the facility and location that is most appropriate for their particular condition.

Arms Trade Treaty

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale: To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources HM Revenue and Customs is dedicating to supporting and taking forward their approach to the Arms Trade Treaty in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Lord Sassoon: Officials from HM Revenue and Customs are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Arms Trade Treaty. These officials are advising on enforcement issues relating to the international movement of weapons. HM Revenue and Customs officials will continue to provide advice to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the treaty negotiations in 2011 and 2012 as required.

Aviation: Unaccompanied Children

Baroness Doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Civil Aviation Authority has had with the airline industry on the age at which children may travel unaccompanied.

Earl Attlee: None. This is a matter for individual airlines to decide. We recommend that consumers check airlines' terms and conditions of carriage prior to booking to ensure that they are aware of their policy on issues such as this.

Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 7 February (WA 1-2), whether the estimated £4 billion in corporation tax to be paid in 2010-11 by large banking groups is calculated before or after the effect of bringing forward previous tax losses.

Lord Sassoon: The estimate of corporation tax receipts takes account of losses brought forward from previous years, as well as other deductions that can be used against corporation tax profits.

Barnett Formula

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is being transferred to each of the devolved Administrations under the Barnett formula in relation to tuition fees paid by students; and whether the amount being paid varies according to whether students are charged for tuition fees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland or according to the amount they are charged.

Lord Sassoon: The amount being paid does not vary according to what the students are charged or account for variations of charges. The devolved Administrations receive a block budget at each spending review and they are free to demine how they allocate that funding between policy priorities.

BBC: World Service

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided the BBC World Service with £13 million per annum of additional contributions towards the deficit in BBC pension funds; how that deficit occurred; how it was calculated; and whether any unused funds can be used for other purposes.

Lord Howell of Guildford: In the 2010 spending review settlement, and as part of a balanced package, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary agreed to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service's request to provide £13 million per annum of new money to fund the BBC World Service contributions to the BBC's £2 billion pensions deficit. These additional funds helped to reduce the cuts that would have affected the BBC World Service and helped to protect language services.
	It is for the BBC to answer how its pension deficit occurred and how it was calculated. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was not involved in that process.
	My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary agreed that the BBC World Service should have flexibility to use any surplus or phasing benefits as it deems most efficient.

BBC: World Service

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how BBC World Service superannuation contributions are paid; by whom; what are the respective employer and employee contribution rates; and what terms are in place for employees made redundant.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Under the terms of the broadcasting agreement between the BBC World Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the BBC World Service has managerial independence and integrity.
	We do not have the details requested, and these questions should therefore be put to the BBC World Service.

Benefits

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide links to websites containing advice issued since January 2009 on face-to-face contact with benefit claimants by (a) Jobcentre Plus, (b) all organisations with Alternative Office status, and (c) any other body with the right or duty to assist or take part in a benefits claim; and whether they will place in the Library of the House any additional advice not published on the internet.

Lord Freud: The department does not publish advice regarding face-to-face contact on any external websites. We provide such guidance only to our own Jobcentre Plus staff but that is only available on our internal intranet and is therefore not available to the general public via external websites. We do not have any plans to publish our internal guidance in the Library of the House.
	Nor do we provide any guidance for advice or representative organisations about how they should deal with our customers.
	We provide a wide range of information about our benefits and services to help such organisations to advise our customers. This information is published via our departmental website (http://dwp.gov.uk/adviser/) and via DirectGov (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ Jobseekers/index.htm).

Benefits: Disability

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 27 January (WA 184), whether they have estimated the number of chronically sick and disabled persons who will have their income reduced as a consequence of proposed changes to the disability living allowance.

Lord Freud: The Government are committed to supporting disabled people, to improving the quality of life of those facing disadvantage and to tackling poverty by addressing the causes driving it.
	We are in the process of consulting on the new objective assessment, and initial work on its design is under way. As part of the design process we are consulting with disabled people and disabled people's organisations. We will be assessing the impact of the new assessment as our development work continues and will publish an impact assessment with our proposed legislation.

Benefits: Disability

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 31 January (WA 217), whether they have calculated the administrative costs of parents of disabled children in term-time residential schools making new applications for the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance for each of the six holidays each year.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 31 January (WA 217), how they will ensure that there is no delay in a family receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance for short holidays, such as a one-week half-term.

Lord Freud: Parents of disabled children in term-time residential schools, who retain an underlying entitlement to disability living allowance, are already able to apply for payment of the care component for periods including weekends when their child is at home. Since the process for managing applications in respect of the care component is already established, only a relatively minor change would be required to reinstate payment of the mobility component at the same time. Payment of benefit is a priority for the department, and its delivery agencies are committed to providing the right payment at the right time.

Benefits: Disability

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 31 January (WA 217), how they will ensure that the Motability car scheme remains affordable for the parents of a disabled child in a term-time residential care home who are entitled to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance only for the school holidays.

Lord Freud: We have made it clear that disabled people and disability organisation could put forward their views on this measure as part of the consultation on wider DLA reform, which was published on 6 December 2010. This consultation ends on 18 February and will make clearer how the measure will impact particular groups in our formal response to the consultation, due to be published in the spring. The department is working closely with Motability in considering how best to manage the impact of the measure on scheme customers.

Bolivia: Drugs

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following their objection to the proposed Bolivian amendment to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, whether the obligation to prohibit the traditional practice of chewing coca leaf in paragraphs 1(c) and 2(e) of article 49 of the Convention takes account of the right to take part in cultural life set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, given that coca leaf chewing is a long practised part of indigenous culture in Bolivia and that the coca leaf and its use is recognised in the Bolivian constitution as part of Bolivia's cultural heritage.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government have the responsibility of balancing cultural rights with the threat of harm to the UK from illegal activities under international law. If coca leaf production was effectively legalised under international law, on existing evidence it would result in further deviation of coca towards the illegal drugs trade. This view is widely shared by many of our international partners including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and Mexico.

Bolivia: Drugs

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website that "We are committed to protecting the human rights of indigenous people" takes account of their support last month for the retention of paragraphs 1(c) and 2(e) of article 49 of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, following the request from Bolivia that the paragraphs be deleted.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We gave careful consideration to the arguments advanced by Bolivia but remain of the view that paragraphs 1(c) and 2(e) of article 49 of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs should be retained. This view is overwhelmingly shared in the international community.
	Coca chewing is a commonly accepted practice within Bolivia and will remain so without the proposed amendment to the convention. Our objection to the amendment of the 1961 single convention will in no way alter current practice within Bolivia and as such does not interfere with Bolivian cultural rights.

Bolivia: Drugs

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in relation to narcotics policy, they regard the chewing of coca leaves separately from the illegal processing of coca into cocaine.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government believe that there is a strong link between the cultivation of coca for traditional purposes and the cultivation of coca for the cocaine trade. For example, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Coca Survey 2009, only 39 per cent (12,000 hectares) of total Bolivian coca production is permitted by Bolivian authorities, and this is against the background of the permitting of any coca production being at variance with its obligations under the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961.
	The 12,000 hectares are said to be for the production of coca for traditional uses, including chewing, medicines and tea. It was stated by the Bolivian Government in January 2011 that at least 20 per cent of coca produced from within this 12,000 hectares had been diverted from officially controlled coca markets to the drugs trade. Much of the remaining 61 per cent of the total production also services the cocaine trade.

Bolivia: Drugs

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the memorandum of understanding on counter-narcotics they have signed with Bolivia addresses the elimination of the processing of coca into cocaine; and whether they will place a copy of the memorandum in the Library of the House.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to help Bolivia in its fight against the illegal cocaine trade.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government are committed to continuing to work with Bolivia to tackle the drugs trade through the work of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in the region, through the sharing of expertise and its work on training, including on tackling assets laundering, on freight container control and on forensics. This co-operation is set out in the recent memorandum of understanding that the Government signed with the Bolivian Government on 20 January. A copy of the memorandum will be placed in the Library of the House.

Charity Research Support Fund

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of support they plan to give to the Charity Research Support Fund.

Baroness Wilcox: The Higher Education Funding Council for England confirmed on 2 February that it will maintain the charity support element of quality-related research funding in cash terms at £ 197.5 million for 2011-12.

Climate Change

Lord Eden of Winton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be their principal objectives at the United Nations climate change conference COP17/CMP7 to be held in Durban in November.

Lord Marland: The Government are committed to working towards an ambitious global legally binding climate deal that will limit emissions and keep global average temperature rises to below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. We will be working with our international partners, both in the European Union and bilaterally, to make progress in implementing the agreements reached at Cancun and to secure further practical progress by the time of the next Conference of Parties in Durban in November this year.

Climate Change

Lord Stevens of Ludgate: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 13 December 2010 (WA 110), what was the cost of sending United Kingdom delegates to the climate change conference in Cancun.

Lord Marland: DECC does not hold final information on the total cost of sending the UK delegation to Cancun for the climate change conference. DECC will make public the total cost of providing travel, accommodation and subsistence for the delegation once this has been finalised, through publication on the department's website.

Consumer Credit Acts

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the level of protection for consumers in the Consumer Credit Acts 1974 and 2006 and any need to amend those Acts.

Baroness Wilcox: The Government are currently reviewing the consumer credit and personal insolvency regime including the protections provided by the Consumer Credit Acts 1974 and 2006. A call for evidence in connection with the review has recently closed and we are currently considering the substantial number of responses received. The Government will make an announcement on next steps in the spring.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress by the Government of Congo in promoting good governance and increasing democracy since the last presidential election.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has seen significant progress in the consolidation of formal democratic institutions since the 2006 presidential elections. However, the legacy of conflict and past governance continues to hold back progress. The UK, through the Department for International Development, has been the most active donor in supporting improved governance and strengthening democratic institutions in DRC, including Parliament. Elections due in 2011-2012 will be a key test of progress.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the Government of Congo to arrest and imprison the Congolese opposition leader of the Christian Democrats, Eugène Diomi Ndongala; and what representations they have made on that matter.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Our embassy in Kinshasa is aware of the arrest and subsequent release of Eugène Diomi Ndongala. Our ambassador raised the detention of opposition figures, including Mr Diomi, with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Our ambassador met the Secretary General of Mr Diomi's party, and other opposition figures, on Tuesday 8 February 2011.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Congo about the security of its border with Rwanda.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We discuss relations with Rwanda regularly with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government officials, who are in close contact with their Rwandan counterparts on questions relating to the DRC-Rwanda border. The increasingly constructive DRC-Rwanda relationship on this issue has resulted in a decrease in security tensions over the past year.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided to (a) the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and (b) the Government of Congo, for the November parliamentary and presidential elections; and what assessment they have made of the prospects of a free and fair presidential election.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK is providing £69 million to the UN Peacekeeping and Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), for 2010-11. This contribution goes to the entire mission and will not be used exclusively for the elections.
	The UK has provided £22 million so far to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) elections. The UK contribution is specifically focused on voter registration, supporting the development of an independent electoral commission and voter education. Our work with voters aims to encourage as wide a participation as possible in the electoral process.
	We regularly stress to the Government of DRC the importance of the elections being free and fair. In recent weeks our ambassador to Kinshasa has raised this with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. We are closely monitoring revisions to the electoral law due to be voted in the next parliamentary session.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, to mark the tenth anniversary of the first publication of the United Nations report on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they will ask the United Nations Security Council to have a dedicated session on the role played by illicit mining and illicit trading in funding and prolonging the wars in the Congo.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This issue was covered at length by the UN Security Council in November 2010 when discussing the 2010 group of experts report and the recent renewal of the UN sanctions regime (UN Security Council Resolution 1952). The issue is raised regularly in UN Security Council sessions. We do not have any plans to request a special session to mark the 10th anniversary of the group of experts reports.

Devolved Administrations: Block Grant Settlements

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will permit devolved Administrations in the United Kingdom to convert any capital allocations in their block grant settlements for 2011-15 to revenue in order to fund public services.

Lord Sassoon: The devolved Administrations' capital and resource budgets can be found in table 2.22 of the spending review White Paper published in October 2010 (Cm 7942). The Treasury restricts all UK government departments and the devolved Administrations from switching between capital budgets and resource budgets, as it would impact on the surplus on the current budget.

Dublin Regulation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women have been removed from the United Kingdom under the Dublin Regulation EC No 343/2003; and what procedural changes they intend to introduce under the Dublin Regulation to address the findings of the European Court of Human Rights.

Baroness Neville-Jones: From 1 March 2003 to 10 February 2011, 987 women were removed from the United Kingdom under the Dublin Regulation. The European Court of Human Rights' judgment in the case of MSS v Belgium and Greece concerned specifically return to Greece. The UK suspended returns to Greece in September 2010 pending the resolution of domestic litigation, so no immediate procedural changes are needed to comply with the judgment. The UK continues to seek to remove to all other signatories of the Dublin Regulation in the usual way.

Egypt

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of the Egyptian people to decide their own political future free from external interference or domestic pressure.

Lord Howell of Guildford: As my right honourable friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary said on 11 February 2011 following the resignation of President Mubarak after 18 days of largely peaceful protests calling for change in Egypt, this is a precious moment of opportunity to have a Government that meets the legitimate aspirations and commands the respect of all the Egyptian people.
	Those who now run Egypt have a duty to reflect the wishes of the Egyptian people. We encourage the Supreme Military Council to make good on its stated commitments, particularly to safeguard the legitimate demands of the people, and welcome talks between the military leadership and those who played a key role in organising the recent protests. The Foreign Secretary was pleased to hear from Prime Minister Shafik on 13 February 2011 that members of the opposition would be included in a reshuffled Cabinet during the next week. We continue to call for an immediate transition in Egypt towards an inclusive and broad-based Government through free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections.

Egypt

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are planning to protect United Kingdom citizens affected by the disturbances in Egypt.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Our primary concern throughout the political unrest in Egypt has been the safety of the approximately 30,000 British nationals visiting or resident in Egypt. More than 50 additional staff were sent to Egypt to reinforce our embassy's ability to provide assistance to British nationals in need. This included a presence at Cairo airport to help more than 2,000 British nationals to leave Egypt, in line with our travel advice. Two hundred and thirty-seven passengers were flown to the UK on two government-funded charter flights, on 3 and 5 February 2011, to supplement the commercial flight capacity available from British airlines. We have also helped more than 4,000 callers who rang the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's dedicated 24-hour Egypt hotline, which we set up for British nationals requiring advice or assistance.
	We are keeping our travel advice under constant review. At present, we continue to advise British nationals against non-essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Luxor. Those without a pressing need to stay in these cities (with the exception of Luxor) are advised to leave by commercial means, where it is safe to do so.
	We have also been monitoring closely the situation in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the majority of the estimated 18,000 British tourists are on holiday. Our honorary consul there continues to report that the situation remains calm and peaceful, as it has been throughout the recent, and unpredictable, days.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 7 February (WA 12-13), whether the "single focus to protect the special status of the embryo" of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority applies to peer reviewers.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 7 February (WA 12-13), how many human embryos were protected from routine experimentation as a result of intervention by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on the basis of information in the searchable records maintained since 2009.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it ensures that licensed research using human embryos meets the statutory tests contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended (1990 Act). The HFEA has also advised that it does not collect information about the number of embryos that are not used in the course of licensed activities.
	The HFEA has further advised that peer reviews of applications to conduct licensable research are taken into account by HFEA licence committees in reaching licensing decisions and form part of the process of determining whether the statutory criteria are met. The criteria that licensable research must meet, set out in the 1990 Act, are made known to peer reviewers.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 7 February (WA 12-13), what the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is doing with information collected from licensed centres that it is required to hold by law but is not easily searchable; and whether the ease of searching that information will alter following the abolition of the HFEA.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it is not aware of any information that meets this description. The HFEA has also advised that the planning of any transition will include securing the future of information that the authority holds on its register so that the requirements of the legislation continue to be met.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government in what proportion of in vitro fertilisation treatment cycles at centres 0076 and 0017 more than 20 eggs were retrieved from women per cycle (a) between 1999 and 2003, (b) between 2003 and September 2007, and (c) since September 2007; and what was the mean, mode and maximum number of eggs retrieved per treatment cycle over each respective time period.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many in vitro fertilisation treatment cycles were abandoned due to a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome at centres 0076 and 0017 (a) between 1999 and 2003, (b) between 2003 and September 2007, and (c) since September 2007.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Centre Code Rate-all cycles/cycles where more than 20 eggs were collected Maximum number of eggs collected Mean number of eggs collected Most common (modal) number of eggs collected Cycles cancelled due to OHSS 
			 Between 01.01.1999 and 31.12.2002 0017 7.5% 55 10.3 6 2 
			  0076 4.6% 34 9.9 7 12 
			 Between 01.01.2003 and 31.08.2007 0017 6.2% 51 9.2 0 4 
			  0076 6.5% 35 10.4 9 8 
			 Between 01.09.2007 and 31.03.2010 0017 5.9% 51 8.9 0 2 
			  0076 9.6% 58 11.1 9 30 
		
	
	Source: HFEA data warehouse, as at 9 February 2011

Energy: Carbon Reduction

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have taken steps to ensure that existing government loans and grants for research and development into carbon reduction will not be affected by the reform of public and private finance for green growth.

Lord Marland: The main instrument used by DECC to support innovation in low-carbon technologies has been capital grants. DECC has not made use of loans. BIS operates a range of support schemes for innovation, including both loan guarantees and grants, but these are not specific to carbon reduction.
	DECC has secured over £200 million from the spending review to support innovation in low-carbon technologies. This includes funding for offshore wind technology and manufacturing infrastructure at port sites. DECC is now in the process of preparing its four-year innovation delivery plan.
	BIS will continue to use the Technology Strategy Board as its prime channel for supporting business-led technology innovation, including low-carbon innovation focused on boosting UK growth and productivity. The Technology Strategy Board's business support mechanisms including collaborative R&D and knowledge transfer networks will be expanded to include over £200 million of funding to establish an elite network of technology and innovation centres and further funding for grant for research and development (grant for R&D).
	The Government do not anticipate that any of these developments will be affected by the reform of public and private finance for green growth.

Energy: Wind Generation

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 2 February (WA 267), what are their expectations of wind-powered electrical generators.

Lord Marland: The modelling for a scenario to achieve 29 per cent renewable electricity in 2020, which DECC used for the 2009 renewable energy strategy, assumed that onshore wind generating capacity was a mixture of low (21 per cent load factor), medium (27 per cent) and high (29 per cent) onshore wind, and offshore wind generating capacity a mixture of low (35 per cent load factor) and high (41 per cent load factor). These are representative of a broader range of load factors achieved by different wind farms.
	The volatility of wind output was taken into account by simulating output through a Weibull distribution, as per Gross et al (2006).

EU: Air Passenger Details

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their position on the proposal by the European Commission to make available to all police forces in member states United Kingdom air travellers' telephone numbers, addresses, credit card details, and email addresses; and whether other details are to be required under the proposal.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The European Commission published its proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the council on the use of passenger names record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime on 2 February 2011.
	Following parliamentary scrutiny of this proposal and consultation with the devolved Administrations and Gibraltar, Her Majesty's Government will consider whether they wish to opt in to this measure.

EU: Budget

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 25 January (WA 137) stating that they consider it unacceptable that the European Court of Auditors for the 16th successive year was unable to grant a positive statement of assurance on the accounts of the European Union, what powers they have to discipline those responsible for the conduct of the EU's financial affairs.

Lord Sassoon: The European Court of Auditors' annual report on implementation of the EU budget is the start of the discharge process. Discharge is the procedure whereby the European Parliament, acting on a recommendation from the council, discharges the European Commission from its responsibility for managing the EU budget for the financial year in question.
	Both the council's recommendation and any resolutions that the European Parliament agrees as part of its vote on discharge are binding on the Commission. Neither the treaty nor the financial regulation (the document setting out the fundamental principles and basic rules governing the implementation of the EU's budget) contains any provision for the European Parliament refusing to grant discharge.
	The Government abstained from the vote on the discharge recommendation at the ECOFIN meeting on 15 February, with strong support from Sweden and the Netherlands. The UK, Sweden and the Netherlands submitted a joint declaration calling for concrete improvements in terms of enhancing member state responsibility, improving transparency of financial management data and encouraging the European Court of Auditors to move towards a more risk-based approach to auditing.

EU: Taxation

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they support the introduction of a European Union common consolidated corporate tax base.

Lord Sassoon: As with any EU proposal, the Government would consider one brought forward for a common consolidated corporate tax base on its merits. We would want to ensure that we are constructively engaged in discussions to help to shape a common consolidated corporate tax base given the implications for UK companies operating across the EU. However, we will not agree to a proposal that might threaten or limit our ability to shape our own tax policy.

EU: Taxation

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposal by France and Germany at the European Council meeting on 4 February for a common consolidated corporate tax base was intended to apply to member states of the eurozone, or all member states of the European Union.

Lord Sassoon: The conclusions of the European Council (4 February 2011) contained a statement by the heads of state or government of the euro area and the EU institutions, affirming that they will take further steps to achieve a new quality of economic policy co-ordination in the euro area to improve competitiveness, thereby leading to a higher degree of convergence, without undermining the single market. This statement also invited non-euro members to participate in the co-ordination.
	As with any EU proposal, the Government would consider one brought forward for a common consolidated corporate tax base on its merits. We would want to ensure that we are constructively engaged in discussions to help to shape a common consolidated corporate tax base given the implications for UK companies operating across the EU. However, we will not agree to a proposal that might threaten or limit our ability to shape our own tax base.

EU: UK National Sovereignty

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 27 January (WA 190), which areas of British national life, other than the functioning of Parliament and the deployment of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, remain under the sole and unfettered control of Parliament and for which the European Union has no competence.

Lord Howell of Guildford: As detailed in my previous response of 21 December 2010 (Official Report, cols. WA 285-7), the current categories and areas of Union competence are set out in Articles 2 to 6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Competences not conferred on the Union in the treaties remain with the member states.

Falkland Islands

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 27 January (WA 193), why they shipped a stone crusher and screening plant to the Falkland Islands which was not capable of producing high quality aggregates for repairing the airport runway.

Lord Astor of Hever: The mobile stone crusher and screening plant were shipped to the Falkland Islands to produce small volumes of low-quality aggregate from a quarry adjacent to RAF Mount Pleasant as and when required for the ongoing maintenance of the local stone tracks and for general fill purposes.
	The mobile stone crusher was purchased some three years before planning commenced on resurfacing of the runway, which in any case requires large quantities of specific aggregate that could not be supplied by the Mount Pleasant quarry.

Falkland Islands: Minefields

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the extent, quantity and location of unexploded cluster munitions in the Falkland Islands as a result of the military action in 1982.

Lord Astor of Hever: Up to 107 UK cluster bombs containing 15,729 submunitions were dropped during the major engagements of the Falkland Islands campaign. A small but unknown percentage failed to detonate. Over 1,500 unexploded submunitions were cleared in 1982 and 1983. A further 16 submunitions have been cleared in the last 10 years. Two submunitions were destroyed during the battle area clearances associated with the 2009-10 demining pilot project.

Falkland Islands: Minefields

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they anticipate all minefields and sites of unexploded munitions on the Falkland Islands will be cleared.

Lord Astor of Hever: The UK is obliged under international treaty to clear the Falkland Islands of anti-personnel landmines only by 2019.
	A pilot project in 2009-10 cleared 1,246 mines from four minefields. A further pilot project will start in late 2011 using land release techniques on Stanley Common.

Film Industry: Funding

Lord Shipley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide transitional funding to film and media organisations in England from April following the abolition of the UK Film Council.

Baroness Rawlings: The British Film Institute (BFI) will become the lead strategic body on film and the distributor of lottery funds to UK film makers from April 2011. Funding arrangements are being made for 2011-12 in order to ensure that there is no gap in the service. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) are in the process of finalising a funding agreement with the BFI. In addition, the BFI is co-ordinating separate agreements with Creative England and Film London respectively. All should be in place from the start of the financial year. Lottery awards will continue to be made without interruption. From April 2011 it will be for the BFI to distribute lottery moneys for film-all existing commitments will be honoured.

Finance: Retail Distribution Review

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Financial Services Authority on the Retail Distribution Review since 29 November 2010.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the objectives of the Retail Distribution Review will be met.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of financial advisers who will leave the industry as a result of the Retail Distribution Review.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the cost of implementing the Retail Distribution Review.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Commission on adviser firms registered in other European countries transferring into the United Kingdom and providing financial advice without having to comply fully with the requirements of the Retail Distribution Review.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Financial Services Authority to delay implementing the Retail Distribution Review until the concerns of the adviser community can be met.

Lord Sassoon: The Retail Distribution Review (RDR) is an initiative of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which is an independent body and, as such, is responsible for considering the impacts and timing of the RDR. The FSA has published final rules on all elements of the RDR, following extensive consultation with the industry, which are due to come into force at the start of 2013.
	The European Union's passporting criteria, which govern the ability of firms to offer services outside their home member states, are not affected by the RDR. Where a firm passports into the UK, it will be subject to the regulations of its home state. However, a firm will not be permitted to operate on a cross-border services basis in the UK if it is doing so for the purpose of evading standards.
	The costs and benefits of the RDR, including impact on the advice sector and consumer outcomes, have been considered in several cost-benefit analyses by the FSA. This includes an assessment of the likely number of financial advisers who may leave the industry. These analyses were informed by independent research and are available via the FSA's website.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussion.

Food: Aspartame

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the full protocols relating to the research study commissioned by the Food Standards Agency into reports of alleged anecdotal complaints about the effects of aspartame.

Earl Howe: A copy of the protocol has been placed in the Library.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Destruction of Documents

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidelines on the destruction of documents in force on 26 November 2008 were issued.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a record of the specific date on which its guidelines on the destruction of documents in force on 26 November 2008 were issued. In the past, the FCO did not generally keep superseded versions of its information management policy. This has recently changed and any significant revisions to information management policy are now systematically recorded.

Forestry Commission

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a list of sites in England managed by the Forestry Commission giving the name, location, size and a location map for each site.

Lord Henley: I have arranged for a list of land by the name held on the Forestry Commission's deeds management system to be placed in the Library. This includes the OS grid reference for each piece of land and the area. A location map on a sufficiently large scale to be able to easily identify each of these 1,604 areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fur Products: Labelling

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the case for clearly labelling all real fur products so consumers can make an informed choice.

Baroness Wilcox: The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) already require traders to disclose whether clothing is made from real fur where this is important information that the average consumer needs to make an informed purchasing decision.
	A national requirement for fur products to be labelled would be at significant risk of breaching full harmonisation in the EU unfair commercial practices directive 2005 (UCPD), which the CPRs implement. This is because it would impose more prescriptive requirements than those in the directive, which requires a case-by-case assessment of whether this is important information that the average consumer needs, according to the context, to make an informed choice.
	Where it is important information, it would need to be given to consumers in good time before they make their purchasing decision.

Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the political situation in Egypt on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the population's access to essential goods.

Baroness Verma: Further to my Answer of 15 February 2011 (Official Report col. WA136), the UN reports that the transfer of goods, including fuel, via tunnels between Egypt and Gaza resumed on 6 February.
	The official crossing point between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah was closed on 30 January by the Egyptian authorities and, as of 15 February, remains closed. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that authorities in Gaza estimate a few thousand authorised travellers are waiting either to exit or enter Gaza through Rafah. Around 1,000 people have permission to leave Gaza, including 150 people with chronic conditions who need medical treatment. We are unaware of any reports that the situation in Egypt has affected the volume or range of goods entering Gaza from Israel.

Gaza: Airport

Lord Cope of Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to assist the reopening of Gaza International Airport.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are not aware of plans by the Palestinian Authority to reopen Gaza's airport at this time. Should we receive requests for assistance, we will consider them in the normal way.

Government Departments: Consultants

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent National Audit Office report, what steps they will take to ensure that the advice they receive from management consultants results in increased value for money for departments.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government welcome the findings of the NAO's 2010 report on central government's use of consultants and interims. The Government will be writing to the Public Accounts Committee shortly to set out the further steps that they intend to take to improve the value that they obtain from using consultants, in addition to those already taken. These include greater transparency, scrutiny and approval within departments and, where appropriate, to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
	In May 2010, this Government introduced a set of new controls to reduce departmental spend on consultancy. Through these controls we have seen a 55 per cent reduction in spend compared to the same period last year for central government departments and their arm's-length bodies.

Graphene

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any public funds were used by the University of Manchester in financing the development of graphene.

Baroness Wilcox: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides funding to the research councils and the Royal Society.
	The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has provided long-term support for research at the University of Manchester into the study of graphene and its future potential.
	The two Nobel Prize-winning University of Manchester academics working on the development of graphene received additional support through the Royal Society's research professor and university research fellowship schemes.

Health: Charcot Foot

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in the United Kingdom were treated for Charcot Foot in each year from 1996 to 2010.

Earl Howe: The information requested is not centrally available. It is not possible using the International Classification of Diseases coding to limit the search for codes to the anatomic site of "foot".

Health: Diabetes

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of vitamin B1 for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Earl Howe: The department has not undertaken an assessment of the benefits of vitamin B1 for people with diabetes.
	Recently published research data suggest that there may be some benefit from vitamin B1 in reducing some of the complications of diabetes. However, it is too early to draw any firm conclusions and further research is required.

Health: Diabetes

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of vitamin D for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Earl Howe: Through the National Institute of Health Research diabetes research network, the department is providing research infrastructure support to a three-year study funded by Diabetes UK into the effects of active vitamin D treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and stage 3 chronic kidney disease.
	United Kingdom government policy on vitamin D and other nutrition issues is currently informed by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a committee of independent experts. SACN is currently reviewing dietary recommendations for vitamin D, taking into account evidence in relation to chronic disease. The department will fully consider any recommendations coming out of SACN's review.

Health: Psychological Therapies

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the funding for psychological therapies recently announced in the Department of Health's mental health strategy will come from savings made elsewhere in the NHS budget; if so, how much will come from those savings; what mechanisms are in place to ensure that all that funding will be spent on training, employment and treatment costs for people with depression; and what systems have been, or will be, put in place to ensure that existing funding for therapy services will not be cut.

Earl Howe: The department received a financial settlement in the spending review 2010, which rises in cash terms. Part of that overall financial settlement is around £400 million for improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT).
	The National Health Service operating framework mandates an annual expansion of IAPT services in line with this commitment.
	Primary care trusts are currently drawing up their plans for next year to implement the operating framework. The plans that we have seen so far are consistent with the Government's commitments to expand talking therapies. We will hold strategic health authorities to account for managing their delivery.

Hereditary Peers' By-election

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the expected cost of all of the elements of the hereditary Peers' by-election on 22 March; and what are the component parts of those costs, including printing, postage and staff costs.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The total cost of the by-election is expected to be £4,689. This estimate includes the following identifiable components:
	
		
			 Ballot administration by Electoral Reform services (including printing and distribution of ballot papers, conduct of the count and advisory work) £3,200 
			 Printing of two Lords' notices £629 
			 Postage and other printing costs (estimated figure) £860 
			 Total £4,689 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a separate figure for staff costs, as supporting by-elections is part of the core work of staff of the House.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many overseas students entering the United Kingdom in years for which figures are available before 2005 remained here five years later and were not undertaking a course in higher education.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency published the Migrant Journey research in September 2010 http://rds.homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr43c.pdf. It reported that in 2004, when the analysis began, approximately 185,600 migrants were granted student visas to the UK. After five years, 21 per cent (38,590) still had valid leave to remain in the UK. Of those still in the UK after five years approximately 11,760 had valid student visas. We are unable to disaggregate them according to level of education or education sector.
	The remaining 26,830 migrants who still had valid leave to remain in other categories comprised those with valid leave in the family route (2,190), permanent work route (13,730) and the temporary work category (5,360). Approximately 5,660 had reached settlement and 250 had valid leave in smaller categories.

Higher Education: Overseas Students and Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many universities have made representations to them about the impact of (a) new visa caps on the employment of academic staff, and (b) proposed changes to immigration regulations on the recruitment of overseas students.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The representations made by universities on the impact of limits on the employment of academic staff formed part of the consultation on limits on non-EU economic migration: 28 June to 17 September 2010. A full list of respondents was published as part of the results of this consultation.
	A consultation on the proposed changes to the student immigration system closed on 31 January 2011. The results of the consultation and a list of respondents will be published in due course.

Higher Education: Overseas Students and Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House all representations from universities about the impact of the new and proposed changes to immigration regulations on the employment of academic staff and the recruitment of overseas students.

Baroness Neville-Jones: There are no plans to place in the Library of the House responses from universities to the consultation on the student immigration system. The consultation is seeking the views of all respondents on the effect of the proposals. The findings of the consultation and an impact assessment will be published in due course.

House of Lords: Hansard

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask the Chairman of Committees what has been the annual cost of delivering Hansard by courier to Peers requesting that service in the London area; and how many copies were delivered each day.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: A total of 63 Members of the House of Lords in the London area receive Hansard by courier each morning. Most of these Members also receive House of Lords Business, while a few receive only the latter. The current annual cost of the courier element of this service is approximately £97,000.

House of Lords: Hansard

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask the Chairman of Committees what consultation was held with Peers receiving a daily delivery of Hansard by courier before the service was terminated.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The decision to terminate this service was taken by the Administration and Works Committee with the support of the House Committee. All affected Members were written to individually to inform them.

House of Lords: Overnight Sittings

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask the Chairman of Committees, further to his Written Answer on 10 February (WA 80), whether compensation will be given as an ex gratia overtime payment, separate from the night allowance, to those staff who worked during the overnight sitting on 17 and 18 January.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: No. The night allowance is paid on the understanding that on some days the House finishes early and on other days it sits late. The level of the allowance is calculated on the basis of a formula which takes into account the recent sitting patterns of the House.

Human Rights

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government which British citizens or residents have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights against extradition to the United States; and how long each of their appeals has been pending.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The list below gives the names of each case where the subject of an extradition request to the United Kingdom from the United States has a current application to the European Court of Human Rights; and the date on which the court imposed a stay on extradition while it considers the case.
	Babar Ahmad-12 June 2007;
	Haroon Aswat-12 June 2007;
	Abu Hamza-4 August 2008;
	Syed Ahsan-23 May 2008;
	Phillip Harkins-2 April 2007;
	Khalid Al Fawwaz-23 December 2009;
	Adel Abdel Bary-23 December 2009;and
	Joshua Edwards-2 August 2007.
	Of the names listed, the first five are British citizens.
	The cases are all currently being considered by the court, except for that of Phillip Harkins; in January 2010 the court adjourned its consideration of Harkins' application pending consideration of fresh representations in the case by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Israel and Palestine

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of Israel about the closure of Karni crossing and its impact on the Gaza Strip.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Although we no longer assess that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza we have long been clear that the status quo is a tragedy, unsustainable and counterproductive.
	There has been an increase in the quantity and variety of goods entering Gaza. But we continue to call on Israel to ensure the unconditional opening of crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons. We also look to Israel to speed up the approvals process for dual-use items and accelerate key imports for UN-led reconstruction.
	My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised the situation in Gaza with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he visited Israel in November 2010. My honourable friend Alistair Burt discussed Gaza at length with the Israeli Co-ordinator for Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT), General Dangot, when he visited the region on 16 to 19 January 2011. Officials at our Embassy in Tel Aviv raise Gaza access with the Government of Israel on a regular basis.
	We welcome any progress, such as Israel's approval of the 20 projects in Gaza including the seven United Nations Relief and Works Agency schools they announced on 4 February 2011 and we encourage more.

Israel and Palestine

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the deportation of a 30-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank to Gaza by Israeli forces after having lived in Jericho for 20 years; and what assessment they have made of the frequency of such deportations by Israel.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of reports that Mahmoud Duwaik was deported from the West Bank to Gaza. Forcible transfer of protected populations out of the city is illegal under international humanitarian law except where the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand and are subject to the restrictions laid down in the Fourth Geneva Convention. We do not have accurate figures for the number of people living in the West Bank who have been forcibly transferred to Gaza.
	We have two recent areas of concern in this regard. The first is the use of outdated emergency laws forcibly to deport Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem from the city. The second is the promulgation of military orders that could provide the Israeli authorities with the ability to forcibly transfer large numbers of West Bank residents to Gaza. We are closely monitoring the former. We raised, through the EU, our concerns with military orders and have received assurances that they will not be used in this way.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the request of the Israeli Foreign Minister that the United States Congress prevents transfers of financial assistance to Palestinians and any effect that may have on essential services in Gaza.

Lord Howell of Guildford: US funding policy is a matter for the US Government. However, the most critical factor limiting essential services in Gaza is the restrictions on access for key imports. We continue to press the Government of Israel to accelerate the import of key items needed for reconstruction and essential services.
	The UK also provides significant humanitarian and development assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, working in close conjunction with other key donors.

Israel and Palestine: West Bank

Lord Cope of Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (a) the Palestinian Authority, and (b) representatives of business in the West Bank and Gaza, about how each could benefit economically from more trade with each other.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have a detailed and ongoing dialogue with the Palestinian Authority about a number of issues related to the Gazan and West Bank economies. We also raise with the Israeli Government our concerns regarding in particular the stagnation of the economy in Gaza.
	We have made clear, most recently when my right honourable friend Alistair Burt, the Minister for the Middle East, visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in January, that, whilst we welcomed Israel's move from a list of permitted goods to a list of banned goods and its December announcement that it would allow some exports, more needs to be done to bring real changes on the ground. This includes reaching pre-2007 levels of exports by the middle of this year, allowing the import of dual-use raw materials for manufacture, and ensuring Gaza has access to its traditional markets of Israel and the West Bank. Reviving Gaza's economy is in Israel's interests; it will create jobs, counter radicalisation, provide an alternative to the Hamas-controlled tunnel smuggling economy and bolster Gaza's pragmatic business community.

Ivory Coast

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the situation in the Ivory Coast.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government remain deeply concerned about the ongoing political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. We support the strong statements that have been made by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union (AU). Both have made it clear that Mr Laurent Gbabgo should immediately and peacefully hand over power to President Alassane Ouattara in accordance with the wishes of the Ivorian people.
	We note that the AU reaffirmed its position at the recent AU summit and set up a presidential panel of five African heads of state to resolve the crisis. We hope that the panel will find a solution that allows the democratic will of the Ivorian people to prevail.

Ivory Coast

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the humanitarian situation in the Ivory Coast.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Internally displaced people (IDP) remain concentrated in the western part of the country. It is estimated that there are 19,500 IDP of which more than 9,300 are children.
	There are 14 confirmed cholera cases and six deaths according to anecdotal reports from the Red Cross-we are awaiting further details on this. World Health Organisation (WHO) reports a yellow fever outbreak in the north of the country, with 64 suspected cases and 25 deaths. On 22 January 2011 the authorities initiated a vaccination campaign which aims to target 840,000 people over nine months.
	Agencies are worried that food security will become a major issue if the current impasse continues. The price of staples, cooking gas and charcoal continues to rise. The cost of food has increased dramatically in refugee hosting communities in Liberia and other neighbouring countries.
	There are now more than 33,000 Ivorian refugees in Liberia according to latest reports. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) reports that 600 refugees enter Liberia each day. Refugees are being hosted in communities in approximately 25 communities in Nimba County. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is working to construct three refugee camps in Liberia. Delivery of assistance to refugees in Liberia is being hampered by recent heavy rains and the poor state of roads.
	A joint UNMIL/Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) rapid assessment of Ivorian refugees in Liberia is under way and will report back soon.

Ivory Coast

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to impose further sanctions on the Ivory Coast.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The latest amendments to the EU targeted measures on Ivory Coast were made in Council Decision 2011/71/CFSP which was adopted on 31 January 2011. This targeted further individuals and entities obstructing the process of peace and national reconciliation, and in particular who are jeopardising the proper outcome of the electoral process. EU targeted measures are under constant review and EU member states continue to consider, where evidence is forthcoming, whether either individuals or entities meet the listing criteria as stated above and put in place the necessary measures as applicable.

Ivory Coast

Lord Alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that export sanctions on Côte D'Ivoire are being enforced.

Lord Sassoon: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has policy responsibility for enforcing export sanctions. HMRC works in conjunction with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to detect and investigate attempted or actual breaches of sanctions. HMRC and the UKBA are enforcing the export sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire as with all other sanctions and embargoes covering the export of goods. Both HMRC and UKBA treat export sanctions as a high priority for enforcement.

Jordan

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the appointment of Marouf Bakhit as the new Prime Minister of Jordan and the impact that will have in Jordan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary visited Jordan on 8 February 2011 as part of a tour across the region at a moment of great opportunity for the Middle East. He met with His Majesty King Abdullah II and discussed recent developments in the region, including events in Egypt and Tunisia, and the need to respond to people's aspirations for greater economic development and more open political systems. He underlined the importance of ongoing reform in Jordan and stressed that the UK would continue to support leaders and civil society in these areas. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary also discussed the urgent need for progress on the Middle East Peace Process.

Libel

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the publication of the draft bill on libel reform.

Lord McNally: We will publish the draft Defamation Bill for consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny in the spring.

Local Authorities: Formula Grant

Lord Shipley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their financial support for local authorities is based on the principle of resource equalisation.

Baroness Hanham: Formula grant is distributed amongst authorities using a formulaic system. It takes account of:
	the relative costs to them of providing services;their relative ability to raise council tax;a central allocation made essentially on a per head basis; anda guaranteed minimum percentage grant increase/maximum percentage grant reduction on a like-for-like basis from one year to the next ("the floor").
	The 2011-12 local government finance settlement focuses resources on the most vulnerable communities with significant social challenges. These are often the areas that are most reliant on central government grant. Applying equal grant reductions would leave the poorest places worst off. We have insulated them by giving more weight to the levels of need in different areas and less weight to per capita distributions. We have also grouped councils into four bands, reflecting their dependence on central government. More dependent places will therefore see proportionally lower falls than more self-sufficient places.

Low Value Consignment Relief

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have estimated the amount of annual loans to the Exchequer arising from low value consignment relief; and whether they have estimated the benefits and costs of reducing the level of the relief.

Lord Sassoon: The direct cost to the Exchequer of low value consignment relief in 2009-10 is estimated as £140 million.
	The benefits and costs of reducing the relief are being considered as part of the ongoing review of the operation of this relief that was announced by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on 13 July 2010 (Official Report, col. 661W).

Manufacturing

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish a strategy for manufacturing in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Wilcox: The Government published the Growth Review Framework for Advanced Manufacturing on 10 December 2010, which invited evidence to help identify the challenges and barriers to manufacturing growth. Contributions will feed into the advanced manufacturing strand of the Government's growth review, which will announce policy proposals at Budget 2011.

Multiculturalism

Lord King of West Bromwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what evidence the Prime Minister said to the Munich Security Conference that multiculturalism has failed.

Baroness Hanham: The Prime Minister told the Munich security conference that, "Under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives ... We've failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong". Views on the challenges of multiculturalism and the need for a common vision have been expressed by a range of commentators over a long period. As far back as 2004, commentators were questioning whether multiculturalism was useful and, under the last Government, the Commission on Integration and Cohesion reported in 2007 frequent concerns about multiculturalism placing the focus on difference instead of on common ground.

Multiculturalism

Lord King of West Bromwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable ethnic minority communities to integrate within the host community.

Baroness Hanham: The Government published an equality strategy in December 2010, which sets out our vision for a strong, modern and fair Britain where no one is held back because of who they are, or where they come from. The Department for Communities and Local Government is consulting with the Home Office and the Cabinet Office to develop a cross-government approach on integration.

Muslim Chaplains

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 31 January (WA 234), and with reference to the speech made by the Prime Minister at the Munich Security Conference on 5 February, whether they have plans to enhance the role that Muslim chaplains play in universities and prisons.

Baroness Hanham: The Government recognise the value of chaplains, of all faiths. They have a critical role to play in universities and prisons, including offering spiritual guidance to students and offenders, as well as providing wider, more generic pastoral support. Universities and prisons will want to continue finding the most appropriate ways to support people on matters of faith and citizenship.
	The Government's Prevent strategy, which aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, has identified universities and prisons as playing an important part in helping vulnerable individuals resist the influence of terrorist radicalisers. The Prevent strategy is currently under review.

Nanotechnology

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the regulation of nanotechnology.

Baroness Wilcox: In 2006 an overarching review of UK legislation, which included whether existing regulatory frameworks impacted on, or were impacted by, nanomaterials, was conducted by the Economic and Social Research Council's Centre for Business Relationships Accountability Sustainability and Society (BRASS) on behalf of the then Department of Trade and Industry.
	The BRASS review found that existing regulatory frameworks could be adapted and extended to cover nanomaterials, and this remains the position. The Government have no plans for a further review of the regulation of nanotechnology. However, the UK is fully engaged in activities that are currently under way in Brussels to consider whether the relevant EU regulatory frameworks are adequate in their application to nanotechnologies. The European Commission has stated that its regulatory review of nanomaterials will be completed by the end of 2011.

Northern Ireland: Water Supply

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they offered assistance to the Northern Ireland Executive during the recent water emergency; what assistance they offered; and what response they received.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: During the water crisis, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made it very clear that the UK Government was ready to help local politicians alleviate the crisis.
	He held a number of telephone conversations with the Secretary of State at Defra on 29 December. A meeting was held with the deputy First Minister and the Minister for Regional Development on the afternoon of 29 December 2010; he confirmed the UK Government's readiness to help.
	On 30 December, my right honourable friend met the First and deputy First Ministers in the morning and again in the evening. The Regional Development Minister was also present at the evening meeting.
	In between these meetings he discussed the matter with the Secretary of State at Defra and with Water UK. They helped identify additional call centre capacity to deal with the heavy volume of calls from customers in Northern Ireland who had suffered disruption. This offer was subsequently taken up on 31 December.

Palestine

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress of the Palestinian Prime Minister's state building project; and what support they are offering for it.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My honourable friend the Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 18-19 January 2011 making clear UK views on the urgent need for progress to secure a two-state solution, based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states and with a fair settlement for refugees. This is essential for Israelis, for Palestinians and for the international community, including the UK.
	We welcome and support the World Bank's assessment that, "if the Palestinian Authority maintains its current performance in institution building and delivery of public services, it is well positioned for the establishment of a State at any point in the near future".
	We are strong supporters of this work including through UK funding of £113.45 million from 2008 to 2010. Mr Burt announced a further £17 million funding during his recent visit.

Police

Lord Condon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of any link between the number of police officers available for front line policing and (a) reported crime levels, and (b) public confidence in the police.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government believe that police forces can make savings while protecting the front line. We do not accept that reducing costs will cause an increase in crime. What matters is how resources are used and how officers are deployed.

Police: Databases

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 7 February (WA 31-2), if the person alleged to be a domestic extremist had not committed any criminal act, whether their details would still be held under the Data Protection Act 1998.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 7 February (WA 31-2), what is the name of the database on which details of domestic extremists are held; how many individuals' details are held; and for how many years.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their proposed reforms of what data may be held on individuals will cover the database of domestic extremists.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 7 February (WA 31-2), whether, if data are held by the police on individuals because they are deemed to be a domestic extremist or hardcore activist, they will propose a legal definition of such categories.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, if an individual has protested peacefully and has not committed a criminal offence, what would lead to their inclusion on the database of domestic extremists.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of individuals whose details are on the domestic extremist database have been charged with an offence or prosecuted.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Home Office neither has access to nor holds the information on police databases which are maintained to tackle domestic extremism.
	Databases containing data on domestic extremism must comply with statutory regulations requiring that police can only collect and retain information for legitimate policing purposes which are described as protecting life and property, preserving order, preventing the commission of offences, bringing offenders to justice or any duty or responsibility of the police arising from common or statute law. The application of these regulations applies to peaceful protestors or a person alleged to be a domestic extremist who had not committed any criminal act. Any proposed reform of what data may be held on individuals would apply equally to those on the domestic extremism database as to any other database.
	The Government currently have no plans to provide a legal definition of domestic extremism, but will of course take note of any recommendations that emerge from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary's wider review of intelligence handling by National Domestic Extremism Units.

Police: Funding

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what monies from (a) the Home Office, and (b) police authorities, have been allocated to the Association of Chief Police Officers' crime prevention programmes in each of the past five financial years; and whether they will place copies of the annual returns and accounts of those programmes in the Library of the House.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Home Office pays an annual grant to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to meet the costs of the ACPO president and central administration; this was £823,688 in 2010-11. In addition to this the Home Office has paid ACPO to undertake a number of specific projects, several of which support crime prevention programmes. Police authorities have also allocated £829,510 each year to ACPO to support its core functions. The Home Office does not monitor allocated funding by police authorities to ACPO for any other specific projects.
	A breakdown of crime prevention funding for ACPO is set out in the following tables. These figures do not include money allocated from the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism or the United Kingdom Border Agency.
	The Home Office places copies of departmental reports and annual accounts in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			 Table 1: Home Office funding allocations to ACPO by financial year (crime prevention) 
			 Project 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Details 
			 Grant in aid funding £836,232 £836,232 £836,232 £836,232 £823,688 To meet the costs of the ACPO president and central administration 
			 Crime business area funding £100,000 To fund the administration costs for the ACPO crime business area 
			 Secure car parks project £208,750 £188,750 £176,250   ACPO safer car park scheme 
			 National domestic extremism project  £2,000,000 £1,000,000 £2,000,000 £2,000,000 ACPO domestic extremism team 
			 Domestic abuse campaign posters   £4,690   Domestic violence awareness project 
			 Total £1,044,982 £3,024,982 £2,017,172 £2,836,232 £2,923,688  
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Police authority funding allocations to ACPO by financial year 
			 Project 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Details 
			 Grant in aid funding £829,510 £829,510 £829,510 £829,510 £829,510 To meet the costs of the ACPO president and central administration 
			 Total £829,510 £829,510 £829,510 £829,510 £829,510

Police: Funding

Lord King of West Bromwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they propose to the funding of police forces in (a) Birmingham, (b) Coventry, (c) Solihull, (d) Wolverhampton, (e) Walsall, (f) Dudley, and (g) Sandwell.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Funding allocations have been approved for all police forces, including West Midlands, for 2011-12 while indicative allocations for 2012-13-2014-15 are yet to be finalised.
	The attached table gives funding allocations for the West Midlands police force. It is not possible to break this figure down further.
	West Midlands Police Funding 2011-12
	
		
			 Revenue funding stream £ million 
			 Home Office main grant 272.9 
			 CLG core funding (NNDR and RSG*) 224.9 
			 Neighbourhood Policing Fund 16 
			 Total 513.8 
		
	
	* National non-domestic rates and revenue support grant

Police: Pursuits

Lord Condon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the public consultation conducted by the National Policing Improvement Agency, when the Code of Practice on the Management of Police pursuits will be issued to police forces.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Ministers are currently discussing this matter with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Post Office: Credit Unions

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Wilcox on 3 February (HL Deb, col. 1464), what action they are taking to reinforce links between the Post Office and credit unions.

Baroness Wilcox: We are firmly supportive of Post Office Ltd as it works to strengthen its links with credit unions and are actively looking into ways in which the two can work more closely together.
	In addition, the Post Office already works with credit unions in a number of ways. For example, the Post Office and some credit unions have existing arrangements where credit union current account holders can access their accounts at post office branches, and Post Office Ltd has launched a new service whereby people can collect their credit union loans at post office branches.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their proposed timetable for restoring funds to members of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they received from the European Commission on the compliance with state aid rules of their proposals for providing assistance to the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

Lord Sassoon: As part of the 2010 Spending Review announcement, the Government met in full a bid by the Northern Ireland Executive aimed at providing assistance to the members of the Presbyterian Mutual Society. Matters relating to taking this forward, including with regard to compliance with state aid rules, are the responsibility of the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland.

Railways: Compensation

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they issue guidance about whether passenger compensation for delayed trains should be able to be used in ticket machines or online, given the reduced hours and staffing of booking offices.

Earl Attlee: For franchised operators, compensation entitlements for poor performance are set out in a passengers' charter. The detailed arrangements for the operation of compensation schemes are a matter for individual train operators. We do not issue guidance on how compensation may be used in ticket offices or online.

Railways: Franchises

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are using the data about train operating companies being collected by Passenger Focus (a) to improve passenger services and the franchise system, and (b) to select future franchisees.

Earl Attlee: On recent franchise competitions, Passenger Focus has shared views on the key passenger priorities that its research has identified. This has been published as part of the consultation currently taking place on the new InterCity West Coast franchise. Passenger Focus also undertakes specific route-based research to assist bidders to shape their proposals for the new franchise. Bidder proposals for the new franchise are evaluated as part of the selection process.

Regional Growth Fund

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they changed the rules for the first round of bidding for the regional growth fund at the time that they did.

Baroness Wilcox: There was no change to the rules-objectives, criteria, the minimum bidding threshold or bidding timing-during the first round of bidding for the regional growth fund.
	There were some minor amendments to improve the application form during the first bidding round, in response to feedback received. The new form was released on 17 December 2010 and the main changes were reordering and expansion of some questions and the addition of one question giving bidders the opportunity to set out how the project fits with the economic priorities and prospects for the locality as a whole. There was also a change to the table on cash flows.
	The changes were introduced to make it easier for applicants to describe how their projects align with the objectives of the fund.

Regional Growth Fund

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what bids for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership had to be discarded because of the timing of the change in the rules for the first round of bidding for the regional growth fund.

Baroness Wilcox: There was no change to the rules for the first round of bidding for the regional growth fund.
	There were some minor improvements to the application form, which were introduced on 17 December 2010 to make it easier for applicants to describe how their projects align with the objectives of the fund.
	Just under 3.5 per cent of applications received were on the old form. All these bidders were given the opportunity to resubmit using the new form. Where these bidders have chosen not to resubmit their bid on the new form, their original application is nonetheless being appraised.
	None of the applications received on the old form came from Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership. Therefore, to the best of my knowledge, no bids from the LEP had to be discarded because of changes to the form.

Royal Mail: Channel Islands

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many small packets and parcels were received by the Royal Mail from the Channel Islands in each of the past 10 years for which records are available.

Baroness Wilcox: Movement of mail is an operational matter for the Royal Mail.
	I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to my noble friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Sale of Goods Act 1979

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the level of protection for consumers in the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and of any need to amend that Act.

Baroness Wilcox: The Government believe the Sale of Goods Act 1979 provides consumers with a high level of protection but is more complicated than it needs to be. This complexity of the law can reduce consumers' awareness and understanding of their rights. For example, many consumers are not aware that the rights granted under the 1979 Act are attached (added into) the contract the consumer has with the seller. Also, where goods are supplied in the course of a service it can be difficult for consumers to know whether this is a contract for the sale of goods covered by the 1979 Act, or the supply of services to which the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 would apply.
	The previous Government commissioned academic research on how the law on the sale and supply of goods and services to consumers might be modernised and simplified to make it clearer and more accessible to consumers and businesses. Their report has been published on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website. The Government are currently considering this report with a view to publishing a consultation paper in the spring.

Sarfraz Ibrahim

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 7 February (WA 36-7), whether a decision has been made on the possible forfeiture of Sarfraz Ibrahim's civil service pension benefits; why the Cabinet Office does not comment on the specific details of individual cases referred to the Minister for the Civil Service; and how many individuals' pension benefits in the civil service pension scheme and the police and health service schemes have been forfeited in the past five years.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Cabinet Office does not comment on the specific details of individual cases referred to the Minister for the Civil Service for his consideration; these are confidential personnel management matters. This would similarly apply to the police and health service pension schemes.

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 27 October 2010 (WA 302), what general lighthouse authority expenditure was sanctioned by the Department for Transport from 30 July 2010 to 1 February 2011.

Earl Attlee: None.

Sport: Athletics

Lord Inglewood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of UK Athletics moving from Crystal Palace Park to some of the Olympic stadia after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, thus enabling the park to be restored to its original appearance.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace is owned by the London Development Agency. UK Athletics (whose headquarters and key performance centres are located elsewhere) use it for specific events. Given the accordingly very limited role of government in determining the future of the facility, we have made no such assessment.

Taxation: Tax Bands

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many taxpayers they forecast will be moved into the highest income tax band (a) this financial year, and (b) in each of the next three financial years, as a result of the reduction in the threshold at which taxpayers begin paying the higher rate.

Lord Sassoon: The threshold at which the additional rate of tax-the highest rate of income tax-is paid is £150,000 in 2011-12, unchanged from 2010-11. There have been no announcements to change this threshold.
	The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 cash increase in the income tax personal allowance for those aged under 65 to £7,475 in 2011-12, with real terms gains focused on basic rate taxpayers through a £1,400 cash reduction in the higher rate threshold in income tax.
	As a result of this announcement, an estimated 380,000 individuals are likely to move into higher rate of tax in 2011-12. However, an estimated 280,000 of those moving into higher rate tax are better off as a result of the measure because they experience the full benefit of the allowance increase without experiencing the full loss from the reduction in the basic rate limit. The increase in numbers paying higher rate tax as a result of this measure is estimated to be 400,000 in 2012-13 and 420,000 in 2013-14.
	These impacts are described in the tax impact and information note Income Tax Rates, Rate Limits and Personal Allowances for 2011-12, available on the HM Revenue & Customs website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget-updates/autumn-tax/tiin2525.pdf.
	These estimates do not take account of announced cash freezes in the basic rate limit in 2011-12, the higher rate threshold in 2012-13 and the basic rate limit in 2013-14, none of which leads to a cash reduction in the higher rate threshold.

Taxation: VAT

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will lower VAT rates to assist the promotion of tourism and hospitality, as other European countries have done.

Lord Sassoon: The Government provide support to the tourism industry, including working with the industry on initiatives such as a joint marketing fund which seeks to generate more than £100 million to boost tourism.
	The most urgent priority is to tackle the record budget deficit to restore confidence in our economy and support the recovery. The Government keep all taxes under review and will consider proposals for new reliefs carefully, but the financial position we inherited means we must give priority to maintaining our fiscal base.

Transport: MoT Scheme

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the MoT test uses the same standards as other countries in the European Union; if not, whether they have assessed what the differences are; and whether British providers of MoTs can travel to countries in the European Union to provide certificates valid for the United Kingdom stating that a vehicle is roadworthy.

Earl Attlee: Directive 2009/40/EC lays down minimum requirements for periodical technical inspections (MoT tests). However, member states may apply additional requirements or standards if they wish.
	The MoT test is largely based on minimum requirements, although the Department for Transport is planning to make some minor changes to the list of test failure items in January 2012, as required by Directive 2010/48/EU.
	MoT testing stations are only approved to conduct testing in Great Britain, because the legislative provisions under which they are authorised to carry out tests do not apply elsewhere. There is in any case not yet a harmonised test which applies throughout the EU.

Trees: Phytophthora

The Duke of Montrose: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the research they are conducting of the overall Phytophthora programme; and whether they will publish the findings by the end of March.

Lord Henley: Updates regarding the ongoing programme of research under the Phytophthora programme are available on the Food and Environment Research Agency website.
	Recently a review of the programme was undertaken, given the emergence of disease in Japanese larch, to consider what changes were necessary in the light of this new development and to confirm funding for the remainder of the planned programme period. This concluded that expenditure should continue at current levels, with some adjustments in priority to take account of the larch situation. We will continue to issue updates about the programme and research outcomes, as appropriate.

Trees: Phytophthora

The Duke of Montrose: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect the recent cold weather to have had any beneficial effect on the Phytophthora infections.

Lord Henley: There are two Phytophthora species causing the current disease outbreaks on rhododendron, ornamentals, trees and heathland plants. Research at the Food and Environment Research Agency is showing that the two species, P. ramorum and P. kernoviae, are very different in their sensitivity to environmental conditions and that growth and sporulation of P. kernoviae is limited by extremes of heat and cold, whereas P. ramorum is more tolerant. These results may indicate that the recent extreme cold weather might have adversely affected the survival and spread of P. kernoviae, but they also indicate that P. ramorum may have been relatively unaffected by such conditions.
	It is not possible to state with confidence that the cold weather will have reduced levels of inoculum or restricted further spread of the pathogens in the natural environment, as there are many other factors involved in the epidemiology of these organisms. The relative rates of epidemic spread in relation to weather factors will continue to be closely monitored over the next 12 months.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-European Economic Area students were granted visa extensions to undertake postgraduate work in the United Kingdom last year; and whether such periods of postgraduate work count towards the time required to enable an application for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The available statistics are given in the following table. The table shows statistics for grants of extensions of leave to remain in the point-based system Tier 1 post study and international graduates scheme categories for the 12 months to September 2010. Data for the full year 2010 will be published on 24 February 2011.
	
		
			 Grants of an extension of leave to remain (1)(2) in the United Kingdom in Tier 1 post study and international graduates scheme categories, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals, Q4 2009 to Q3 2010 
			 Number of decisions 
			 Quarter/Year Tier 1 Post Study International Graduates Scheme 
			 2009 (P)   
			 Q4 8,770 5 
			 2010 (P)   
			 Q1 13,790 5 
			 Q2 4,345 - 
			 Q3 7,060 - 
		
	
	(1) Excludes dependants of principal applicants.
	(2) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 (- = 0, *= 1 or 2).
	(P) Provisional figures.
	Source: Home Office, Migration Statistics.
	Derived from Table 4.2 of Control of Immigration: Quarterly Summary, United Kingdom-July-September 2010.
	Statistics for grants of extensions of leave to remain are published in table 4.2 of Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical SummaryUnited Kingdom July-September 2010. This Home Office statistical bulletin is available from the Home Office's research, development and statistics website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html. A copy has been placed in the House Library.
	The routes of both the points-based system tier 1 post study and the international graduates scheme have never led directly to settlement in their own right.
	However, migrants on these routes are allowed to apply for indefinite leave under Long Residence where such leave would count towards the requirement or they are able to switch into routes which do lead to indefinite leave such as tier 1 general of the points-based system.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether time spent in the United Kingdom by a foreign national on a student visa counts towards the qualifying period for naturalisation as a British citizen.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Time spent in the United Kingdom on a student visa can count towards the residence requirements for naturalisation if a person meets the statutory requirements on the date of application.